Scotland open consultation on LEZ zones amid concern over air quality

Scotland have progressively reduced air pollution over recent years, but the same can’t be said about the air quality, which is predominately caused by road transport remains a key issue in a number of hotspots located in different towns and cities across the country.

So to improve air quality in these areas the Scottish government has produced objectives they intend to implement into certain areas.

With help of local authorities, introduce Low Emission Zones (LEZs) into our four biggest
cities between 2018 and 2020 and into all other Air Quality Management Areas
by 2023 where the National Low Emission Framework (NLEF) appraisals
advocate such mitigation.

Introduce an Air Quality Fund to support local authorities with Air Quality
Management Areas to deliver transport based mitigation as identified by the
NLEF.

Work with the commercial and bus sectors, the Energy Saving Trust and the Low
Carbon Vehicle Partnership to introduce an Engine Retrofitting Centre in
Scotland to support the delivery of LEZs, creating new jobs and with the goal of
winning business from outwith Scotland.

The reason for this consultation by the Scottish Government is because there has been significant scrutiny of LEZ’s and air quality in recent years and this consultation provides an opportunity for stakeholders and the general public to offer their views on Scottish Government proposals on key aspects of establishing LEZs in Scotland.

After the consultation closes on the 28th November 2017, all responses will be analysed and used to inform the LEZ policy making process to help shape the guidelines that the Scottish Government will adopt to design, establish and operate Scottish LEZs.